Review: radioablation offers no benefit for GERD patients

(HealthDay)—For patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), evidence shows no difference in physiologic parameters for treatment with a radiofrequency ablation technique known as Stretta versus sham or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, according to a review published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Seth Lipka, M.D., from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, and colleagues conducted a systematic review for randomized controlled trials of Stretta in patients with GERD. Data were included from four trials (three compared Stretta with sham; one compared Stretta with PPI therapy) involving 153 patients.

The researchers found that the quality of evidence was low overall. In pooled analyses, no differences were observed between Stretta and sham or PPI therapy with respect to outcomes of mean (percentage) time the pH was less than 4 over a 24-hour time course; lower esophageal sphincter pressure; ability to discontinue PPI therapy; or health-related quality of life.

"The results show no beneficial effect of the Stretta procedure for any of the outcomes reported in these studies," the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to the medical device and medical technology industries.